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BOTSWANA’S PROVIDENCE ESWATINI CHESS CHAMPION

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MBABANE – Botswana’s International Master was just too good for Eswatini chess players.


International Master, Othlohotse Providence, was yesterday crowned the overall champion of the Eswatini Chess tournament, walking away with the E7 000 grand prize.


The international champion said the competition was tough but was grateful to have retained his championship. He commended two of the kingdom’s Candidate Masters (CM) as the strongest in the tournament.
 “The competition was tough but I am very excited over the win. Two of Eswatini’s players gave me a challenge and these were Candidate Masters (CM), Sikhanyiso Sihlongonyane and Fungai Mathawa. I hope to return for next year’s Open and I am happy about the warm welcome we received in this beautiful kingdom,” said Othlohotse.


 Most of the kingdom’s players who were among the top 10 in the tournament became winners of the Best LiSwati in both Women and Open section. CM Sikhanyiso Sihlongonyane and Fungai Mathawa played a tie and equally shared the E1 200 prize that was reserved for the Best Liswati in the Open category.


 The country’s highest rated CM, Mathawa, said the competition was tough as they were not equally prepared as their international counterparts.
He said that this was mainly because the kingdom’s players did not have the frequent exposure to competitions and they also lacked the necessary resources.


resources


“We were playing against some of the best international players who are more experienced than us. We do not have much competitions and that was the reason why we were not so well prepared. The lack of sporting resources is also another factor that is dragging the development of the chess in the country,” he said.


Mathawa added that he was excited with the escalating young talented players getting on board and further encouraged more scholars to join the sport as it helps broaden one’s mental capacity and teaches them how to strategically overcome life’s obstacles.
Some of the local schools that were represented in the tournament were, KOBE, St Anne’s, Khanyisile and Hillside.


Miss Eswatini Chess 2018/2019, Temahlubi  Dlamini battled her way to the final round and was named the best Liswati finisher in the women’s section, walking home E700 richer.
Women International Mistress (WIM), Vilhete Vania Fausto, once again hoisted the Mozambican flag in the competition. She was the overall champion of the Women’s section, pocketing the grand prize of E3 500.


The champion also said that the competition was tough but was content with her achievement as she made her mark by retaining her standard as the highest ranking player. “It was a tough competition and in chess winning never comes easy but I am happy that the competition went well and my country was well represented once again,” said Vilhete.

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